AP Style

Do we need to memorize certain aspects of AP style for our final test? Does anyone know?

Final Paper

I think we all need a forum in which to discuss our concerns, questions and advice about the final paper. What is your topic? What is your angle? How are you formatting your paper? Tell all here.

I'm writing about how Twitter has become a useful tool for journalists. However, I'm afraid that my angle is too dry.

Obama in Action

It is encouraging to see that Obama is in fact executing plans that he discussed when he was running for president. But I fear that, in an attempt to push as much legislation as possible before his first year as president (sometimes referred to as the "honeymoon period") ends.

I like the idea of universal healthcare...but not so much the idea of excessive taxes. I would rather wait a few more days, weeks, months or years for universal healthcare when kinks in the plan are worked out than have it implemented in August when the plan is still flawed.

Any thoughts?

Poem From The Rooftops

Has anyone found the video we watched that had the Poem on the Rooftop in Iran? I can't find it, but I want to watch it agian.

And have the pictures bee uploaded yet?

Officer vs Professor

I read the artical today in the Washington Post that tells the the story of the officer who possibly caused the mess with Henry Louis Gates. I'm wondering which one is in the wrong? Is either of them. If the officer is telling the truth then odds are it is no one's fault.

My dad was a police officer for the DNR for 25 years, and I know from expirience that police officers are perfectly capable of stealling, but usually only from the Department. (Handcuffs, and other neccasary supplies the department doesn't like to distribute properly).

I want to believe that its no one's fault and we can forget the entire thing. However I doubt it will end that way. The best this officer can hope for, guilty or innocent, is to keep a job as he said: "The professor at any time could have resolved the issue by quieting down and/or going back inside his house."


WhoWhat do you think?

Usa Today!

Hello Everyone,

I really enjoyed myself today at USA Today, learning about the different news rooms and how they work. What I enjoyed most was the way the employees explained their jobs and what great pleasure they have in doing them.

I was amazed the most at Marisol Bellos' job. To recap, she was the national reporter for the enitre news paper. In my opinion, she has a really big responsibility when it comes to delievering stories and being their when it happens.

Typically, a day for her is travel to the most urban or rural areas pof the world and pulling out a brillant story to reveil to the public. If I was to continue a career in journalism I would defianetly want to be a national report. They get to deliver exciting and on- spot news stories from all around the globe. In my own words, I would say Bello has a spontaneous profession.

So everyone tell me what you thought about today's trip and what inspired you, if any?

Teens and Twitter

On today’s field trip to USA Today, Mr. Horwich said that he does not prefer to use Twitter because of its lack of context. But, on the flipside, Mr. Horwich also said that Twitter is an appropriate way to receive news alerts. For our generation, I feel that Twitter can potentially be a stepping stone to force our friends to be aware of the news—even if it just pops up in their newsfeed. I know that many of my friends could care less about world news, but making a Twitter account could give our peers an easy way to stay in-tune with the world around them. It’s as easy as subscribing to ABC News or my personal Twitter friend, Ann Curry.

I will never forget the first major piece of news that I learned via Twitter.
Ironically, hours before Michael Jackson’s death, I made a Twitter account to keep up with the news and follow my favorite celebrities. Hours later, while I was getting the hang of the website, I saw on my newsfeed that Jackson had died. Just like everyone remembers exactly where they were at 8:45 a.m. on September 11, 2001, it seems like everyone clearly remembers how they learned of Michael Jackson’s death.

I believe that Twitter is a highly accessible source for quick news updates. At least in my hometown, not many teens have Twitter accounts. As budding journalists, we can help make our generation more aware of the news by creating Twitters and talking about it to our friends. Do you use Twitter? Do your friends?
If you have not signed up for a Twitter account, go to twitter.com and start tweeting!

Women in News

Hey Guys.
I really enjoyed listening to Professor Carol Rogers today. I thought that it was interesting to learn how even today there are still issues of racism and sexism in the job world. I also thought it interesting to learn that women, who hold the same job as men, make lesser money than men.
What can one do to change this? Is there anything? Or are we just stuck in this situation? What do you think the future holds for women?
Tell me what you think

Equality for Women?

Our guest speaker said something that really caught my attention today.

She said, "The more things change, the more things remain the same."

In regards to women in the media, I agree with what she was saying because the reality of the situation is that no matter how much we want to change the way woman are portrayed in the media, there's always going to be stereotyping in the world. Even after Seneca Falls and the 19th amendment, woman are still oppressed by our society.

Salaries are a perfect example. Men are still paid more than women; and it's not that women want that extra 60 cents or however much it is, it's the principal of the matter that irritates me. Equality shouldn't have exceptions.

Like our speaker said, as the world adapts and the knowledge we have increases, somehow the way women are treated (in the media) still lacks the fairness and equality of what they deserve.

I'm curious as to how the rest of you interpret and feel about this quote.

Go Gates!

Hey guys. I dont know if anyone else is excited to go to USA Today tomorrow, but I definitely am. I have been looking foward to it and I am excited that its finally here!

I wanted to talk more about the Henry Louis Gates issue that happened yesterday. That really caught my attention that this guy had to go through all that even after he showed that it really was his house. In the USA Today it says "This incident should not be viewed as one that demeans the character and reputation of Professor Gates or the character of the Cambridge Police Department," it said. I think thats nonsense becuase it is demeaning the reputation of Professor Gates. It was racial profiling. You would think that after he showed them his address they would let him go, but they did not and i think that was because of his race. Obviously I think they would have known to let him go even before that because of who he is, but I guess not. I agree with Gates when he said he was glad that the neighbors called the police, because I would want to know if someone was robbing my house, but it went too far. No one should be treated like that no matter what race, ethnicity, gender, etc. you are. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks =)

Attempts to Stop Media Coverage of Tiananmen Square Anniversary

For my final paper, I am discussing the effect that the media has had on global communication, especially in countries where their government tries to censor the internet. While searching for information on the anniversary of Tiananmen Square, during which China blocked certain internet sites and prevented media from entering the area in which the protests had occurred, I stumbled across this video. Watch this video if you can, it is pretty funny.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8082604.stm

It is basically the Chinese police's attempt to stop the US media from filming, using umbrellas to block the cameras. At first I thought this was a joke, but this is really the tactic that the police used!

What do you think of this video and do you think that the Chinese government will be able to continue censoring the media with the rise of the internet?

Today's Women's Issues Discussion

So, what did everyone think of our guest speaker today?

I think Professor Rogers was very delighted to have the opportunity to talk with us and she seems very enthusiastic about her views on anything associated with women.

I really paid attention to her statistical facts on women's issues and I was really shocked how women make up 2/3 slots in journalism schools and only 1/3 of them are full-time journalists. I noted how Rogers said, "The more things change, the more things stay the same," but I really hope that will change in years to come. Especially in our generation.

I think we all know of the main problems women and minorities go through, and Professor Rogers elabortated on so.

What are your views on Professor Rogers' discussion?

"Quiero Taco Bell"

Hey everyone,

I have some sad, breaking news. Have everyone seen the Taco Bell camercial with the cute little Chihuahua? She was famous for the catch phrase "quiero Taco Bell" which means "I want Taco Bell". As told by People.com, on Tuesday night Gidget died. She had a stroke at the age of 15. Her trainer, Sue Chipperton says "Gidget always knew where the camera was" and "she made so many people happy."Does anyone have any memories of watching the Taco Bell camercial with Gidget the Chihuahua?

Mike Vick Reinstatement

For a while now, all that has been heard on ESPN is information dealing with Michael Vick and whether or not he will be reinstated into the NFL after serving his 23-month sentence in federal prison for dogfighting charges.

I believe that Vick should be given the right to re-enter the NFL and continue his professional career. It doesn't seem fair to me that our own justice system can make a decision to send him to prison and for some people that's still not enough. Many people want NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to keep Vick out of the league and have him continue the suspension he received following his court case. If you ask me, he served his time and now he should be allowed to get back to his own life and not be stripped of something he worked so hard to obtain.

Also, more recently, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte' Stallworth was charged with DUI manslaughter after killing a pedestrian. He was given a sentence of only 30 days. My question is when did it become much worse for someone to kill dogs than to kill people? Vick is always in the news for his legal troubles but Stallworth has gotten very little. Why is Vick being attacked so much?

Michael Vick is hand down one of the most entertaining players in recent NFL history. And arguably, the best rushing quarterback ever to play the game. Vick filled the seats in countless NFL stadiums due to his unique and athletic flavor he brought to the quarterback position.

Now my quesiton to you is should Vick be allowed reinstatement into the NFL?

Breaking News and Changing Titles

I knew that news websites are constantly updating their home pages to show the most recent news, but usually there are still a few stories that are the same from the morning paper.

However, when I went on www.washingtonpost.com just now, none of the stories are the same! It is just shocking to realize that what you read just this morning is now outdated.

I've been thinking about the extent to which new media controls our lives. What would happen if it suddenly shut down? What would we do if we no longer could chat instantly with people around the world or if journalists could no longer post breaking news stories on their paper's web site just as they happened?
It is scary that we are so dependent on this single source.

Also, I noticed that a lot of the articles in today's Post were titled differently online than in print. For example, "New Path to Restore Identities of Missing" is on the front page, but online the article is titled "Database Combines Details of Remains, Disappearances in Hopes of Making Matches." Also, "Utopia at a Discount" is on the front page, but "Buying a Bit of Celebration, Fla., Is Getting Easier" is online.

We've discussed how the internet is supposed to be "faster," but then why do the online article titles seen so awkward to me.

Let me know which titles you like better and why you think they were changed.

The News Media's Woman Problem

While doing our readings for July 22, "The News Media's Woman Problem", I found this amazing quote by Carl Sessions Stepp, AJR's senior contributing editor, who teaches at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland.

"Journalist are followers not leaders, observers rather than agents of change, willing to edge toward upsetting the status quo but soon settling safe near the middle."

What do you all think of this quote? Agree or disagree?

Broadband

On NBC Nightly News tonight, there was a report about how, in some rural areas in the US, there is no broadband Internet connection. Residents of these areas must rely on slow dial-up connections to use the Internet.

I personally cannot imagine life without lightening-fast Internet. Without the quick Internet connection I have become accustomed to, I would not be able to multi-task or even do singular actions with such ease.

The lack of fast Internet connections in some places in the US and the world raises the question of what would happen if journalism were to make a more permanent transition to the Web. Those without adequate Internet connections would suffer. What do you think?

Glamor for Media

Hi guys.

I was just looking over the readings for Tuesday and I came across something very interesting.  Greta Van Susteren, a news host, got plastic surgery when she moved to Fox 5. 

I think this is horrible because one should not have to change one self to be liked. I think that if she is good at reporting the news, than is does not matter what she looks like. I feel that there are other reporters who do this too as well as celebrities.

 The idea behind plastic surgery is to look young, so does this mean that older people should not be reporting the news? In this day in age, does one have to look a certain way in order to do the news? Do you think that one should completely change their appearance in order to land a job? 

Tell me what you think. 

Crime drops?

This morning after reading that crime has dropped in many major cities, I was shocked. I figured due to the recession that people would be committing more crimes.  Apparently I was not the only one confused,  "Experts did not see this coming at all," said Andrew Karmen ( From Washingtonpost.com) 

In the article it specifically talks about violent crimes such as murders, specifically in the DC metro area and Prince George's County. Even though the article talks about how police are taking credit for the drop, it does not really mention what they have done other than track and prevent gang fights.  The ironic thing about this article is that over the weekend, also published in the Washington Post was an article about Prince George's county police who are being investigated for gambling and protecting "powerful drug dealers." So it brings to question what is really being done that the crime rates are dropping, or who is causing it to drop, when police officers themselves are being investigated.  

The problem I have with the original article is that it does not specifically talk about what type of crime or other crime rates which left me wondering.  Do you think that crimes such as drug dealing or robbery has dropped as well? 

The Environment: Part 2

I seperated the posts so two ideas would not conflict in the minds of the rest of you reading my perhaps insane views. (Sorry, I care about the Earth)

Anyway: Here is the short and sweet story.

We broke the atmosphere. That isn't good, because skin cancer NEVER compliments your tan. We wanted to fix it proving that deep down, humanity isn't *entirly* heartless and evil.

[Fail]

We made it worse, the fix-it chemical that we dumped made it worse.

"In the atmosphere, these replacement chemicals act like "super" greenhouse gases, with a heat-trapping power that can be 4,470 times that of carbon dioxide. " - curtosy of the Washington Post. (Interestingly [in this case frustratingly] enough this article is not a major story.)

The article can be found here, because it was taken down already. I am biased, I know, but I would show this everyday, for at least a week, IN ALL CAPS.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/19/AR2009071901817.html?hpid%3Dtopnews&sub=AR

Did anyone notice this: We tried to fix a problem caused by humans dumping chemicals, BY DUMPING MORE CHEMICALS.

I am not a scientist, I am little but a very angry civillian... AND EVEN I KNOW THAT SOUNDS LIKE A BAD IDEA.

Yes, I know... In the situation the faced I might have made the same mistake. Still why didn't we see this coming?

AND WHY ISN'T THIS STORY IN CAPS ON EVERY FRONT PAGE OF EVERY NEWSPAPER IN THE ENTIRE WORLD?

The Environment

I was reading about how the Environment and how our earlier attempt to fix it is making things worse.

THIS IS IMPORTANT!!!

As I see it, Sotomayer is no where near as important as this. Yet this gets one article. At the beginning of the program Sotomayer got two or three at a time in the post.

Isn't the life of one person, of one Government kindda second seat to something that will harm this entire planet?


Isn't the environment infinatly more important than this insignificant action (compared to this event)?

Death of a Legend

The legendary Walter Cronkite passed away at the age of 92 on Friday. According to CBS, he passed with his family at his bedside after struggling with a long illness.

Cronkite was considered the man who "personified journalism for more than a generation as anchor and managing editor for CBS News." His legacy spanned almost the entire 20th century. He covered topics from World War II to the launch of Apollo XI. He broke the news about John F. Kennedy's assassination. He had the people's attention, but more importantly, he had the people's trust.

"Cronkite was the steadying force for a time of national sorrow." A 1972 poll regarded him as the "most trusted man in America." He gave journalists a good name.

I figured out about his death from one of the big screen televisions in the Terp Zone. CNN was doing coverage about his legacy and his work. They also had other journalists talking about his legacy and their own personal feelings of his work.

Could this not have come at a more coincidental time? We are all here for a three week journalims program and one of the most influential journalists dies in our first week. It feel like this means something. Nevertheless, his legacy will not be forgotten. And we as the aspiring journalists of the future, need to carry it out and perform with the passion and consistency as Cronkite did.

American Idol without Paula Abdul

Millions of people love the hit singing reality competition American Idol not only for the new talent and entertainment, but most of all for the three famous judges; Randy Jackson, Simon Cowell, and Paula Abdul. We've known each of them because of their memorable personalities. Simon's the obnoxious one with the english accent, Randy loves to express himself through the word "dawg", and Paula is perceived as beautiful, loving, diva.

Now approaching the shows ninth seasons, rumors has it that Paula may not be returning as a judge to the show. According to "Access Hollywood" and Paula's manager David Sonnenberg she is not happy and also is hurt. Some reasons stem from her not approving of her new contract. Even after negotiations in June, it still isn't looking like Paula will be returning after being a judge for the previous eight seasons. Paula expressed her feeling about the situation on Twitter where she expresses that she appreciates the feedback and support she is recieving from her fellow tweeters and she couldn't get through the situation without them.

I can never imagine watching American Idol and not seeing Paula Abdul. What would the views think of that? Will Americxan Idols lose viewers who are fans of Paula? What would American Idol be like without the diva judge Paula Abdul? Give me your feedback and thoughts about Paula's choice on whether not to return to American Idol

Stop and Listen

Hi Guys.

I was just reading one of the articles for Monday about interviewing. I thought that it was very interesting  how simple it is to get information during interviews. According to this article, "To be a good interviewer you must learn to listen--both to others and to yourself." If one is interviewing an athlete, politician or peer, one basically needs to be attentive and prepared with questions. I also learned that it is important to try to have a conversation with the person you are interviewing instead of just asking them questions.  

Have any of you guys ever been in the position of interviewing a peer for a school newspaper or magazine? If so, how did you conduct your interview? What skills did you use?

Tell me what you think. 

Musical Influence!

Hello Everyone,

My roommate and I were just talking about how music effects people's lives, outlook on the world and feelings. My roommate felt as though people should not allow a song or a certain music artist to effect their feelings and how they go about certain things in their day, however I feel that music influences people's mind that listen to it constantly throughout the day.

Typically for teens, if they are going through hard times with a girlfriend or boyfriend, they tend to listen to more love generated songs that are a guide to helping them figure out what to do about their certain situations. I felt as if this was a great my to work out a problem like that because that song may convey the same feelings you have, however my roommate thought it was a good idea to listen to a more uplifting song that causes happiness or just get out with friends and family so that you firget out the entire situation.

Futhermore, I think music causes some people to do outrageous things, such as roadrage and pointless fights. For example, a Hip-Hop artist named Ludacris has a song entitiled, "Move Get Out My Way." A person inside a car on a highway will hear this and they would want to go faster and act as if the road was theirs. I feel as though this is true because music and generate all types of feelings, depending on the certain circumstance. In contrast, my roommate feels that people do what they want and music has no affect on them, and if it does have an effect, then theres a problem.

Journalism 150 Tell me how music effects you, and if it does, why do you allow it to?

Op-Ed

As Professor Banisky suggested,  I have been skimming the Op-Ed page of the Washington Post for the past few days. However, I'm still a little fuzzy on what an Op-Ed piece is. How does it differ from an editorial? Just in the fact that it's written based on one's opinion rather than on the opinion of the publication as a whole? I would greatly appreciate it if someone could clarify Op-Ed for me.